When screenwriter Kevin Williamsons story for Scream 3 was tossed out in favour of focusing on a Hollywood brat, television gained one of its most chilling concepts. The Followings central idea of an incarcerated serial killer with legions of willing followers on the outside happy to do his dirty work, was lifted directly from Williamsons original Scream 3 script. One movies loss is another TV shows gain, as The Following acquired its creepy villain, Joe Carroll. Leader of a sprawling cult, he reaches past the prison gates and into the lives of those who wronged him. As an ex-professor, hes up there with Hannibal Lecter as one of the most intellectual psychopaths. His performance is based around his undoubted charm, used as a mask for his violent tendencies - brought to life spectacularly by actor James Purefoy. His evil prowess is proven through his calm, centred behaviour, making him one of the more magnetic entries on this list. That doesnt change the fact that his true demeanor is that of a cold, ruthless killer. His preferred methods for torture include removing his victims eyeballs. This is of course enacted by one of his minions, all of whom don terrifying masks of his face. Hes behind bars, but his sneering visage can still creep into your house and gut you like a fish.
Gem is a freelance writer, musician and librarian.
Her hobbies include: recreating movie death scenes from LEGO, concocting new types of bird suet cakes, walking on fresh snow and playing the glockenspiel - all at the same time.
